Chapter 7 of Valorant brought beloved agents Deadlock and Gekko, an exciting new Team Deathmatch mode, and the international introduction of Chinese servers to the Valorant universe. Valorant is entering an unprecedented era. With two new agents last year, an expanded international esports presence, and renewed interest in competitive gaming thanks to Premier, the game has reached a completely different scale from its humble beta origins in 2023, while retaining the gameplay qualities we know and love.
Chapter 8 Part 1 will take players into a more intense and fun Valorant world than ever before. From a mysterious agent to a brand new weapon, there's a lot to unlock in this upcoming update.
Riot Games will also modify Sunset to fix bugs and balance the map. Additionally , Valorant developers will be making adjustments to some Team Deathmatch maps, including the newly added Zone. Icebox will soon rejoin the map pool, while Riot Games will remove Haven from the rotation. This news will excite many Icebox fans who are eagerly waiting for the day when the map will return to Valorant. Players can also assume that some agents and weapons will be reworked, as in previous Chapter updates.
According to leaks, Icebox will rejoin the fray when Episode 8 goes live in January 2024. But Haven, which has long been a base map, pays the price for this addition.
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► Valorant New Skin Pack Kuronami Skins Leaked
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Icebox was removed from the map pool in last April's 6.08 patch notes to undergo a major rework. Players were divided on this map due to its long crosshairs and vertical nature. But after months of tweaking behind the scenes, Icebox looks ready for a fresh new comeback.
It remains unclear what changes will occur in Icebox. But considering the major revamps following Breeze's return, Riot Games likely has some surprises in store. Leaks indicate that Fracture or Pearl could potentially fill the open slot, but Icebox's long absence suggests it may finally be ready for prime time.
On the other hand, Haven's departure marks the end of an era. Haven , one of Valorant's original launch maps , has been among the indispensable parts of the competition since the game's release. Its unique three-field layout gave teams greater flexibility.
While Haven has likely emerged from the pool, Ascent is all that remains of Valorant's first maps. The community is sure to miss Haven's familiar venues, from the iconic C Long to A Heaven. But Riot Games is no stranger to shaking up the meta with bold map pool updates.
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► Agent Compositions for Valorant Haven Map | 2024
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Recently leaked information has led to speculation about a new Valorant agent joining the game in Chapter 8. The character has been confirmed to be a Control Expert and his codename is 'SmokeDancer'. A leaked player card image featuring a pink and purple color scheme and butterfly motifs brought news of this agent's arrival.
Episode 8 will also bring the newest Valorant weapon, Outlaw. Outlaw is a sniper rifle that costs 2,400 credits. It fires two bullets at once, dealing a massive 140 damage to the body, 234 damage to headshots, and 119 damage to leg shots. The Outlaw has a fire rate of 2.75 and a magazine size of 10.
Valorant Episode 8 will start on January 10, 2024.